Tiger Woods begins the next phase of his life at Torrey Pines this week when he tees it up in the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour, his first event of 2017.
Woods told the media in San Diego for the tournament that he felt ready.
"I'm excited about playing," Woods said. "I feel like I'm playing well and just need to get some tournament rounds under my belt."
The former world No. 1, who missed all of 2016 because of a back injury and resulting surgery, plans on playing four tournaments in the next five weeks — Torrey Pines, then the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour, the Genesis Open at Riviera and the the Honda Classic in Florida.
"I just need to get out there and do it and see what happens," he said. "I feel like I'm strong enough to be able to handle the workload, but I've still got to go out there and do it. Feeling good about it and doing it are two different things."
Woods acknowledged that his back would determine the success of his return to the tour. "I know I can shoot scores, but I need to have my health at a state where I can prepare," he said. "If I have that I know I can shoot scores and win golf tournaments."
World No. 1 Jason Day is in the field this week as well as other Australians Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Steven Bowditch, Brett Drewitt, Marc Leishman, Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy and John Senden.